As we fled The Garden, some old Granny got on to us for standing on a couch and leaning on the windows near the temple, we were eager to go onwards.
If you're LDS you're familiar with General Conference, if not it's a biannual gathering if our leaders broadcasted to us. Well it's always held in the same location, the LDS Conference Center. As we entered the building we were swept into a tour group and led to the roof. That in itself is one of the best things about Temple Square, every building has continual free tours guided by missionaries or volunteers, so they're chalked full of direction and information. So up we went to see the views from above, and in typical fashion, tons of small botanical gardens.
Finally we were taken inside to see the actual room, filled with an enormous set of organs. Prophets, apostles and regular folks like myself have littered the floors for years. What a special place!
And then it was time to briefly (like te most briefest of all brief) visits for the North and South Visitor's Centers. As we began to exit the South, a whirling torrent of rain came down in sheets- but were we to be dismayed? Nay! We ran through that rain without batting an eye, though we should have considering Listi was unwilling to share the "family" umbrella. And wouldn't you know the rain finally let up and we rounded a corner and...
WOW. Can you handle that? I can't. Here is a series of selfies, proof that I was present at this magnificent sight, the best I have ever seen.
(My instant camera was everywhere with me on this trip.)
At 5:00 the time arrived. After taking a few hundred photos of the Salt Lake Temple, we finally entered it. My lifelong bucketlist item was checked off with love. Without going into detail, just know that I was thoroughly pleased and eagerly invite all LDS members to go, if possible. It was extra special because some of our closest friends were able to experience it with us: Ethan, Jonathan and Amy. (Fun fact, Amy was having labor pangs and I was terrified at the thought of delivering a baby during the middle of the session. Alas, no baby came :)
As we exited, we began to stress when we realized we would cut it close to make Listi's curfew. So we bid Ethan farewell, grabbed the quickest bite from the food court (Red Iguana for me, Chick- Fil- A for the Mizell's) and ran towards the train. With a hop, a skip and boom we were heading towards cousin Shannon's! Luckily she scooped us up and we scurried to her home. Her family and ours stayed up sharing stories and learning more about each other. I am so grateful for her hospitality. Daddy always said it was hard to find a nicer group of cousins, he was right!
So finally we slipped into the bed and I thought about how it would be a long time before Listi and I would be able to split a room again. And then everything blended together as I fell into one of the best night's sleep I have ever had.
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